Final Fantasy XV Pre-order + Announcements Overview

Fans of the Final Fantasy series (like myself) have eagerly been waiting for new information regarding Final Fantasy XV. I’ve been following the newest entry in the franchise since it was named “Final Fantasy Versus XIII” during the period of time where Final Fantasy XIII and Agito XIII were in development. On March 30th, Square Enix presented all new information about Final Fantasy XV in Los Angeles at a special event called Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV and revealed an enormous amount of information about the game and upcoming properties related to Final Fantasy XV.

The release date for Final Fantasy XV has been confirmed to be on September 30th, and will release worldwide on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One; in addition to the release date, Square Enix revealed a variety of new projects surrounding Final Fantasy XV that will release around the same time. It should also be noted that there is currently no information on a PC release. Before we get into the details of the side projects, I am happy to see that Square Enix has also released a brand new demo as well as a fun little trailer for the demo.

The demo (titled Platinum Demo) is a free download that gives you a bigger glimpse into the final version of the game while providing you with a piece of the Final Fantasy XV story that will not be a part of the final game. The demo puts you in the shoes of a young Noctis Lucis Caelum as he navigates a fragmented dreamscape with the aid of Carbuncle, a mysterious creature that seeks to guide him through the dream world. You will need to help Noctis master weapons, magic spells and driving all while following Carbuncle’s guidance. For those who finish the free Demo before the Final Fantasy XV launches will receive Carbuncle as a free summon DLC at launch exclusive to Demo players. Check out the announcement trailer for the Platinum Demo below.

The newest gameplay Trailer (titled “Reclaim your Throne”) is narrated by King Regis (Noctis’ father) and showcases brand new gameplay with music from composer Yoko Shimomura, as well as a beautiful rendition of Stand By Me (originally by Ben E. King) by Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine created specifically for the trailer. I am a HUGE fan of Florence + the Machine so it is not something you’ll want to miss out on. Florence’s rendition of the popular classic is perfect for the trailer and showcases beautifully how her voice and Final Fantasy XV’s story work so brilliantly together.

Florence herself commented on the collaboration, stating “I’ve always seen FINAL FANTASY as mythical, beautiful and epic; Stand by Me’ is one of the greatest songs probably of all time and you can’t really improve on it, you just have to make it your own. For me it was just about bringing the song into the world of Florence and the Machine and the world of FINAL FANTASY.”

Now on to the juicy stuff… Pre-ordering! There are 3 versions that can be pre-ordered which include the Day One Edition, Deluxe Edition, and the exclusive Ultimate Collector’s Edition. The first 2 can be ordered by clicking the image below.

Square Enix announced a variety of other companion Content to Final Fantasy XV, such as Justice Monsters Five, a new Pinball game that will be playable in Final Fantasy XV when it launches in September. Justice Monsters Five will also be getting a Google Play and iOS version for mobile at some point so that fans can enjoy Noctis and the gang’s favorite pinball past-time on the go. Justice Monsters Five will combine Role-playing elements with pinball, and a variety of Final Fantasy’s most recognizable monsters (I’m willing to bet Chocobos, Malboros, and Moogles will show up at LEAST once in the game) will be along for the ride.

That isn’t all that Square Enix has in store, not by a long shot; in fact, Square Enix has announced both an anime series, and a CG Movie (akin to Advent Children) based on events that will not be taking place in Final Fantasy XV but may be referenced or alluded to, and will contain backstory that will help fans get deeper into the lore of Final Fantasy XV.

Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV is an anime series of five episodes that will be delve into the relationship between Noctis and his three friends and comrades that will accompany him on his journey in Final Fantasy XV. Episode 1 is already available for streaming on YouTube (legally, I know what you are thinking, this is the Internet after all) and subsequent episodes will be releasing for free viewing on the Final Fantasy XV YouTube Channel before the launch of Final Fantasy XV. This probably means we’ll have a few weeks in between episodes to wait if they’re going to drag it out before the launch of Final Fantasy XV, but at least we have that to look forward to in the meantime. Check out the trailer below for Brotherhood Final Fantasy XV.

The juiciest bit of information out of Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV is not the release date, or the mobile app, or even the anime series; Fans of Game of Thrones will particularly enjoy the announcement of Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, a CG movie that will have an all-star cast including Sean Bean (Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones) who is voicing King Regis, and Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister of Game of Thrones, or Leonidas’ wife in 300) who will be voicing Princess Lunafreya, who has been entrusted to bring the royal ring of Lucis (a sign of succession) to Noctis; Additionally, Aaron Paul (known for his role as Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad) will be playing Nyx.

The synopsis for Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV is below, and seems to hint at a very Game of Thrones-esque political plot, with plenty of action interspersed throughout the fully CG created film.

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the hallowed Crystal, but the menacing empire of Niflheim will stop at nothing to make it theirs. War has raged between the two for as long as most can remember.

King Regis of Lucis commands an elite force of soldiers dubbed the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, Nyx Ulric and his fellow glaives stand before the crown city of Insomnia, fighting to stay the inexorable advance of Niflheim’s imperial army.

Before the overwhelming military might of the empire, King Regis can only salvage his kingdom by accepting anultimatum—he must cede all lands outside the crown city, and see his son, Prince Noctis, wed to Lady Lunafreya, the former princess of Tenebrae now captive of Niflheim.

As the war of wills rages, the machinations of Niflheim transform Insomnia into an awe-inspiring battleground, pulling Nyx into a struggle for the very survival of the kingdom.

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV is slated to release sometime this fall prior to the release of Final Fantasy XV in a cross-collaboration effort to provide more backstory and depth to the world of Final Fantasy XV. I must admit however that it makes me wonder if Lena Headey will reprise her voice acting role of Lunafreya in the English version of the game, or if they will have separate voice actors for the film and the game. Check out the full teaser trailer below.

I applaud Square Enix greatly on the sheer amount of information they released. While they didn’t give us much more to go on in terms of how the game’s story might unfold, they are providing a plethora of companion content and expanding in the world of Final Fantasy XV in ways that many developers might not consider. After so much time passed with very little information on Final Fantasy XV, it is almost surreal to have stunning evidence that it really is happening after a whopping 10-year development cycle.

This announcement also makes me wonder if they might decide to do something similar with the Final Fantasy VII remake; will there be more films like Advent Children? Will we see an Anime series? It is too soon to tell, but I can honestly say I love what Square Enix is doing so far, and my excitement for Final Fantasy XV has been reinvigorated.